Eventually a college student has to make the decision to continue living in on-campus housing or make the decision to move off campus. Both have their pros and cons and it’s up to you to decide what’s going to be the best decision. However, I recently moved into an off campus house and I found the experience to be so much better than living in on-campus housing. Here are some of the benefits you might experience if you decide to move out of university housing and into a place off campus.
1. It’s Cheaper
This is just the most obvious one. Campus housing is generally much pricier than off-campus housing. I’m currently paying half as much as I was in a university apartment for triple the space, plus my own basement and backyard. Prices may vary, but generally, you’re going to be paying a lot less for more space when you move off campus.
2. More autonomy
When you live off campus, you don’t have to pass by security guards and residential employees every time you leave or come home. Sure you might not have that safety net, but you also get to come and go without worrying that somebody is watching you.
Furthermore, you can do whatever you want in off-campus housing. You can be as loud as you want (as long as you respect your neighbors) and have as many people over as you want to at your own place. Scanning into buildings and signing in your guests makes throwing get togethers much harder. Anybody can come and go as they please when you live off campus.
3. You can have pets
Most on-campus housing does not allow pets (with the exception of service animals and emotional support animals). However, when you move off campus, you can look for a place that specifically allows pets. Nothing makes studying better than having a cute furry friend cuddling with you.
4. More privacy
When you live on campus, especially in high-capacity apartment buildings, stepping outside of your door is going to involve seeing a lot of people that you know. When you live off campus, you can head out to the store mid-finals season, unshowered with no makeup, without feeling like you’re going to be judged by every classmate you’ve ever had.
5. You learn independence
Living off campus puts you a step further into the real world outside of college. You’re now responsible for electricity and cable bills, dealing with landlords instead of corporations and residential advisors, learning what day is trash day, and being responsible for your own safety and security. You have to cultivate relationships with neighbors that consist of families and elderly people instead of just college students. It’s another step forward into the world of “adulting.”
6. New places to eat
After living on campus for two years, I got pretty sick of all of the closest food options because I would eat them so often. Moving about ten blocks off campus means that I now get to experience a whole new array of my closest food options. Plus, I still get to go to some of my favorites once I’m back on campus!
Moving off campus isn’t for everybody, but it’s a fun experience that has it’s own set of challenges. In the long run, it may be the best option for you once you’ve gotten bored of living on campus. Comment and let us know if your experience has been better while living on campus or off campus!